Device for simultaneously dispensing from plural sources



Feb. 14, 1967 A.J. BRESLAU ETAL 3,303,970

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPENSING FROM PLURAL SOURCES Filed July 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l 2 INVENTORS,

ALAN J. BRESLAU, J'ERROLD I. KURTZ,DECEASED,

a) -,Jaw

1967 A. J. BRESLAU ETAL 3,303,970

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPENSING, FROM PLURAL SOURCES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 14, 1964 INVE/V TOP ALAN J. BRFSLAU,

DECEASED, BY co/vs TANLE Al/AYZ, ADMIN/STRATRIX 1967 A. J. BRESLAU ETAL 3,303,970

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPENSING FROM PLURAL SOURCES Filed July 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ALAN J. BRESLAU, 151M010 1 KURTZ, DECEASED,

By CONSTANCE AURLZADMl/V/fkATR/X ATTO/P YEY Feb. 14, 1967 A.J. BRESLAU ETAL 3,303,970

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPENSING FROM PLURAL SOURCES Filed July 14, 1964 5 ShGQLS-ShGit 4 i ..ll,., '21 9 ZIQ bl 64 (0 60a INVENTORS, ALAN .1. BRESLAU, i Q JERROLD I. KURTZ, DECEASED,

a BY CONSTANCE KURTZ, ADMIN/S TRATRIX 1967 A. J. BRESLAU ETAL 3,303,970

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPENSING FROM PLURAL SOURCES Filed'July 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS,

United States Patent The present invention relates to the dispensing art and more particularly to a mechanism for mixing liquids in varying proportions as they are being dispensed.

It is well known that liquids of different colors, such as red and yellow, can be combined in various proportions to produce different tones of one or the other color. Similarly, a variety of colors and tones may be produced by combining any two or more component colors.

In use, it is desirable to maintain a minimum number of basic colors which may loosely be referred to as primary colors and to mix these colors to produce a so-called secondary color or to produce different tones of the primary colors. Different tones may also be useful to give a shading effect which is sometimes desirable.

It has been difficult to produce different tones by a spraying operation. In such circumstances, if one layer is sprayed on another, the second layer will tend to cover the first layer. It is even more difficult in spraying operations if it is desired to alter the mixture.

In order to solve these problems, the prior art offers spray dispensers having specialized paint containers which are adapted to automatically mix the sprays of two or more different colors. However, such prior art dispensers are cumbersome to use and expensive to manufacture.

Furthermore, the prior art offers no satisfactory arrangement for conveniently and precisely controlling the proportions of the paints in order to achieve the desired color or to produce different tones of a color during the dispensing operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved mechanism for simultaneously dispensing several liquids.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved mechanism for varying the proportions of the .several liquid constituents in the mixture before or during the dispensing operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved mechanisms having novel valve means for metering predetermined proportions of several liquids which are being simultaneously dispensed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispenser which permits varying the proportions of a dispensed liquid mixture to achieve optimum results.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved dispensers for paint which can give a variety of tones in applying several different colored paints.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved dispenser in which the tone of the mixture of colors may be changed during application.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved dispenser which does not require the use of special containers but which can be used with containers presently available.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved dispenser which is simple to manufacture and maintain.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

Preferred embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and are shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser which may be made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the metering arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, partially in section, showing the mechanism for controlling the mixing of the colors;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4 showing the gear train for the mixture control mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment of the mixture control slide of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of another modification of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the control slide used with the embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a modified embodiment of the metering valve arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a still further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the mixing valve shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing the control mechanism of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a scale used with the embodiment shown in FIG. 16; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the dispenser 1 generally comprises a holder 2 which is provided with a pair of upright container-receiving cylinders 4 and 441 at one end for receiving a pair of liquid dispensing containers 5 and 5a, respectively. The holder 2 has a rearwardly extending tapered neck 7 having a vertical grip 8 depending therefrom. The dispenser 1 may be made of a plastic material or of any other suitable substance, such as metal, etc.

As indicated above, the upright container-receiving cylinders 4 and 4a on the dispenser 1 are each adapted to receive and hold liquid spray containers 5 and 5a, respectively. These cylinders 4 and 4a may also be clamps, snap files or some other holding mechanism.

The liquid spray containers 5 and 5a may be of any conventional type and preferably are commercially available aerosol spray containers. Each aerosol spray c0ntainer 5 and 5a has a rim 15 and 15a by which it is supported in its respective upright cylinder 4 and 4a. The aerosol containers, as shown in FIG. 3, are equipped with 2, a discharge valve stem 17 and 17a which are adapted to be depressed in'order to eject the contents from the container in a fine spray.

An operating handle assembly 6 (FIG. 1) pivotally mounted on the neck 7 of the frame by a pin 20 is used to release the contents from each liquid container 5 and 5a. Preferably, the handle assembly 6 comprises a body portion 19 having a pair of arms 21 and 21a provided with buttons 22 and 22a depending from the tips thereof which are positioned over the stem valves 17 and 17a on the aerosol containers 5 and 5a. A handle 9 depends from the body portion 19 and is adapted to be positioned in front of hand grip 8 so that both can be grasped, i.e. moved toward grip 8 the plugs 22 and 22a will be lowered.

In order to control and vary the flow of liquid, control valves .23 and 23a are superimposed over the discharge stems 17 and 17a, respectively, of the containers 5 and 5a. Each control valve 23 and 23a is of similar construction and comprises a generally cylindrical valve body 26 and 26a having a side discharge orifice therein. The valve bodies 26 and 26a each have a bottom opening 28 and 28a (FIG. 3) to receive the discharge stem 17 and 17a of the aerosol containers Sand 5a, respectively. Each valve body 26 and 26a is open at the top to receive a control plug 29 and 29a, respectively, which is retained by flanges 30 and 30a on top of each valve body 26 and 26a. Each control plug 29 and 29a is provided with rearwardly extending handles 31 and 31a, and is adapted to rotate in its valve body 26 and 26a between limits defined by a recess or cut-out 32 and 32a in the flanges 30 and 30a of each valve body 26 and 26a.

Each control plug 29 and 29a is provided with a vertical internal duct 34 and 34a (FIG. 2) which is positioned over the discharge stems 17 and 17a of the containers 5 and 5a. Control plugs 29 and 29a have horizontal ducts 35 and 35a, which have the smallest diameter in the system, communicating with vertical ducts 34 and 34a and at right angles thereto and on the same plane as discharge orifices 27 and 27a in each valve body 26 and 26a and communicates therewith. By rotating the plugs 29 and 29a in each valve body 26 and 26a, the alignment between horizontal ducts 35 and 35a and discharge orifices 27 and 27a can be altered.

As pointed out above, each valve body 26 and 26a is provided with a side orifice 27 and 27a. The orifices 27 and 27a of each valve body face each other and may be provided with a check valve assembly 74 and 74a inserted therein which comprises ball 75 and 75a and springs 76 and 76a, to prevent feedbacks. A tube 70 and 70a extends from each check valve assembly 74 and 74a and is inserted into a mixing manifold 25 which is provided with a pair of internal conduits 71 and 71a which communicates with tubes 70 and 70a. Conduits 71 and 71a merge into a single conduit 73 into which is inserted the nozzle 72. It will be understood that the check valve assemblies 74 and 74a may be eliminated or may be altered, as by removing the spring, without departing from the invention.

With this structure the liquid under pressure is ejected from the containers 5 and 5a by squeezing handle 9 which depresses the plugs 29 and 29a through buttons 22 and 22a. Fluid under pressure will be ejected from the stems 17 and 17a of each container 5 and 5a and will be ejected from the nozzle 72 through conduits 34 and 34a and 35 and 35a in the plugs 29 and 29a, check valve assemblies 74 and 74a, conduits 70 and 70a, and bores 71 and 71a in the mixing manifold 25. It will be seen that the fluid from each container 5 and 5a is mixed in the mixing valve 25 and is ejected from the nozzle 72 as a mixture.

By rotating the control plugs 29 and 29a through handles 31 and 31a, the alignment with the horizontal conduits 35 and 35a and orifices 27 and 27a is altered by a greater or lesser amount so that the amount of fluid ejected from each container 5 and 5a is correspondingly' altered. For example, in the position of the parts shown in FIG. 2, the conduit 35 of plug 29 is out of alignment with orifice 27, whereas the conduit 35a of the plug 29a is in complete alignment with the orifice 2742'; Hence, no fluid is ejected from the container 5, whereas all the fluid is ejected from the container 5a.

As the plugs 29 and 29a are rotated by movement of the handles 31 and 31a the conduit 35 will come into register with the outlet 27 while the conduit 35a will be moved slowly out of register with the orifice 27a. Hence, a mixture will start to be formed in which some of the fluid of one container 5 will be mixed with the fluid in the other container 5a. It will be seen that by varying the alignment between the horizontal conduits 35 and 35a, and the orifice 27 and 27a, a predetermined mixture of fluids can be obtained.

A mixture control mechanism 11 (FIGS. 1 and 4) coordinates the movements of the plug handles 31 and 31a so that a predetermined proportion of each liquid is released from container 5 and 5a.

In its preferred arrangement, the mixture control mechanism 11 comprises a movable control slide 41 which is mounted in a transverse slot 10 in frame 2 and adapted to move the plug handles 31 and 31a and thereby rotate plugs 29 and 29a.

The movable slide 41 has an upstanding hollow body portion 42 with recesses 44 adapted to receive the valve handles 31. In addition, the slide 41 has a lower flange 45 which registers within the contours of the transverse slot 10 and is also provided with an internal rack 48.

The slide 41 is adapted to be moved back and forth in the slot 10 by a trigger 13 through the intermediation rack 49 on trigger 13, pinion 46 mounted on spindle 50 and internal rack 48 on the slide 41. By moving the trigger 13 inwardly or outwardly in its slot 12 through finger hole 51, the pinion 46 is rotated by rack 49 on trigger 13 and the mixture control slide 41 moves back and forth in the transverse slot 10 in the frame 2. The movement of the mixture control slide 41 moves the valve handles 31 and 31a and rotates the control plugs 29 and 29a. In this manner the alignment of openings 35 and 35a with outlets 27 and 27a is adjusted so that the amount of liquid ejected from the container 5 and 5a may be controlled.

Indicator scales 14 and 14a (FIG. 4) may be located on the frame 2 adjacent tips 52 and 52a of the valve handles 31 and 31a to indicate the predetermined porportion of each liquid which is released from the container 5 and 5a.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the present in vention in which the aerosol spray container 5 has recessed valve stem 137 instead of the extended valve 17 used with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings. The aerosol spray container is provided with a recess 138 in which valve stem 137 is located and control valve 123 has a downwardly extending hollow extension 124 which protrudes into the recess 138 above valve stem 137. In all other respects the operation of the mechanism shown in FIG. 12 is substantially similar to the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7.

FIG. 8 shows a modified embodiment of the present invention in which the control slide 54 has an external rack 55 rather than an internal rack, as in the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 7.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show still another embodiment of the present invention in which the trigger 113 does not have a rack but is provided with a slanting finger 114. The

. in order to rotate the plugs 29 and 29a through the handles 31 and 31a.

Another modification of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11. The modification comprises the use of modified metering valves 58 and 59 which may be controlled by the release handle *9.

The modified metering valves 59 and 59a comprise a valve body 60 and 60a which may be cylindrical and an internal plug 61 and 61a having internal vertical ducts 62 and 62a and a horizontal duct 63 and 63a communicating therewith which may be provided with springs 65 and 65a, although such springs are not essential. The stems 17 and 17:: on each aerosol container 5 and 5a fit into the internal ducts 62 and 62a in the plugs 61 and 61a and the horizontal duct 63 and 63a in the plugs 61 and 61a registers with an orifice 64 and 64a in the valve body 60 and 60a when the plugs 61 and 61a are depressed. Preferably, the buttons 22 and 22a on the release handle 9 overlie the plugs 61 and 61a so that when they are depressed by squeezing handle 9, the plugs 61 and'61a are depressed to release the contents.

The discharge orifice 64 in valve 58 is at a lower level than the orifice 64a in the other valve 59a. Consequently, when the valve plugs 61 and 61a are pushed by the button 22 and 22a on release handle 9, conduit 63- will first align with openings 64 and then conduit 63a of valve 59a will become aligned with opening 64a. The valve 59 will begin to close first as valve 59a approaches maximum opening. Thus, the valves 59 and 59a may be set at different openings to give a varying ratio of liquids in final mixture.

FIGS. 13 through 15 show a further embodiment of the present invention in which adjustment of the mixture is controlled by a mixing valve 140. The containers 5 and 5a supply fluid to mixing valve 140 through plugs 141 and 141a and conduits or orifices 142 and 142a. The mixing valve 140 has a rotatable valve body 143 with a pair of cutaway feed portions 144 and 144a. It will be noted that as the valve body 143 is rotated, the cutaway feed portions 144 and 144a will automatically expose one of the conduits, e.g. 142, and cut off the other conduit, e.g. 142a so that the amount of fluid which is mixed and ejected from the mixing valve 140 will be regulated. As shown in FIG. 13, the valve body 143 is rotated by a control arm 145 which is swung in one direction or the other by a control slide 146 under the actuation of the finger 147 of a trigger 148. When the trigger 148 is moved inwardly or outwardly the control slide 146 will move back and forth to swing the control arm 145 and thereby rotate the valve body 143. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 the control slide has been eliminated and the control arm 145 has a pin 149 which is movable in a slot 150 located in the finger 147 of the trigger 148.

FIGS. 16 through 18 show another embodiment of the invention wherein the mixing manifold 160 comprises lower pressure plate 161 having hollow pins 162 adapted to control the aerosol spray container 5. The lower pressure plate has chambers 163 and 163a communicating with mixing channel 164 and with hollow pins 162. The mixing manifold has a cover plate 165 and an intermediate throttling diaphragm 166 which may be made of neoprene or some other suitable resilient material. The cover plate 165 has opening 167 and 167a adapted to receive throttle needles 168 and 168a which lie on resilient diaphragm 166. The needles 168 and 168a are controlled by trigger 170 through cams 169 and 1690 which are inclined in opposite directions. When the trigger 170 is moved inwardly or outwardly, one needle, e.g. 168a, will be moved downwardly to apply pressure to diaphragm 166 and move it to a position closing the hollow pin 162 while the other needle 168 will be moved upwardly by diaphragm 166 to open the other hollow pin, thereby controlling the amount of material mixed and ejected from the mixing manifold. If desired, the trigger 170 may be provided with a pointer 171 which operates on a scale 172 (as shown in FIG. 18) to give the operator visual indication of the portions which are being mixed.

FIG. 19 shows still another embodiment of the invention in which the valve heads and 180a of the aerosol containers are simultaneously controlled by a single control slide 181 through control arms 182 and 182a. The valve heads 180 and 180a are so positioned that the spray from each aerosol container will be mixed in the air in front of the two containers.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described as having preferably a pair of liquid containers with a corresponding number of related parts, it is to be understood that it is within the purview of the invention to utilize more than a pair of dispensers.

It will also be understood that the present invention, in addition to its use with colored liquids, may also have numerous other applications in dispensing liquid compositions. For example, the present invention can be used in dispensing chemicals such as a plastic resin and a catalyst for rapid curing of the plastic. Therefore, specific reference in this application to paint compositions is for purposes of illustration and does not limit the usefulness of the present invention with other liquid compositions.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a highly versatile and economical liquid dispenser. By segregating the component liquids, such as primary colors of paint, it is possible to combine the paints into a derivative color having a multitude of shades. In addition, only so much paint or other liquid as is needed is actually used.

Moreover, the dispenser can be operated using just one hand which not only provides for more accurate spraying but also enables the operator to change the position of the target throughout the dispensing operation.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention we claim:

1. A dispensing mechanism for dispensing a plurality of fluids from a plurality of sources comprising a plurality of conduits each having one end connected to one of said sources, a valve in each conduit for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, each of said valves comprising a valve body and a valve plug movable relative to each other, said valve body and said valve plug each having an orifice therein, means for moving said valve plugs relative to said valve bodies simultaneously to control the alignment of said orifices relative to each other thereby increasing the flow through one conduit and proportionately decreasing the flow through another con duit, said moving means comprising a movable control slide and a trigger connected to the control slide and mounted for movement in a direction normal to the direction of movement of said control slide on a plane substantially parallel to the control slide, said control slide being oper-atively connected to said valve plugs for moving the valve plugs relative to said valve bodies, and the other ends of said conduits beyond said valves being arranged to direct fluids discharged therefrom into admixing relationship with each other.

2. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mixing manifold is provided to admix said plurality of fluids and wherein said conduits direct fluids from said sources to said mixing manifold.

3. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein each valve plug has a handle extending therefrom which is operatively connected to said control slide.

4. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein each valve plug is rotatably mounted within each valve body and wherein said control slide is adapted to rotate the valve plugs and valve bodies relative to each other to control the alignment of the orifices relative to each other.

5. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control slide has notches to accommodate said handles.

'6. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said control slide has a gear rack and said trigger has a gear rack and wherein said two gear racks are op"- eratively connected to each other.

7. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said trigger has an angled finger. extending therefrom and wherein said control slide has a notch adapted to receive said trigger.

8. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein a plurality of holders are provided on said dispensing mechanism, each holder being adapted to hold a source of fluid, each source having a discharge valve operable to discharge fluid therefrom, and a handle on said dispensing mechanism adapted to operate said discharge valve to cause the release of fluid from said sources.

9. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sources are aerosol spray containers and wherein said handle has an element overlying each spray container adapted to operate said discharge valve when depressed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 395,453 1/1889 Powers 239-414 X 748,971 1/1904 Millspaugh 222134 1,984,892 12/1934 Phillips et al 137607 X 2,661,925 12/ 1953 Barkelew. 137607 X 2,747,603 5/1956 Klin-ge-r 137 607 X 2,813,751 11/1957 Barrett 239306 2,941,696 6/1960 Homm 239573 X 3,135,467 6/1964 Greenman 239-304 3,236,457 2/ 1966 Kennedy et al 222394 X FOREIGN PATENTS 511,989 10/ 1920 France.

9 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

F. R. HANDREN Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING A PLURALITY OF FLUIDS FROM A PLURALITY OF SOURCES COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CONDUITS EACH HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID SOURCES, A VALVE IN EACH CONDUIT FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID THERETHROUGH, EACH OF SAID VALVES COMPRISING A VALVE BODY AND A VALVE PLUG MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, SAID VALVE BODY AND SAID VALVE PLUG EACH HAVING AN ORIFICE THEREIN, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID VALVE PLUGS RELATIVE TO SAID VALVE BODIES SIMULTANEOUSLY TO CONTROL THE ALIGNMENT OF SAID ORIFICES RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER THEREBY INCREASING THE FLOW THROUGH ONE CONDUIT AND PROPORTIONATELY DECREASING THE FLOW THROUGH ANOTHER CONDUIT, SAID MOVING MEANS COMPRISING A MOVABLE CONTROL SLIDE AND A TRIGGER CONNECTED TO THE CONTROL SLIDE AND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTROL SLIDE ON A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE CONTROL SLIDE, SAID CONTROL SLIDE BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE SAID VALVE PLUGS FOR MOVING THE VALVE PLUGS RELATIVE TO SAID VALVE BODIES, AND THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID CONDUITS BEYOND SAID VALVES BEING ARRANGED TO DIRECT FLUIDS DISCHARGED THEREFROM INTO ADMIXING RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER. 